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The Koshland Science Museum closed on November 27, 2017. Since 2004, it has provided an opportunity for visitors to learn about science and its importance as a decision-making resource in their daily lives. Following a review of other modes of engaging the public, however, the work of the museum will be carried out through a new program of activities that will take place in a variety of locations and online, interacting with a broad range of community partners in its continuing mission to help people use science to solve problems. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting transition by signing up for our newsletter!

For the latest news from the Koshland, subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us on Facebook or Twitter to discover new insights and become part of a community of science enthusiasts. Or email us at labx@nas.edu.

The Koshland Science Museum closed on November 27, 2017. Since 2004, it has provided an opportunity for visitors to learn about science and its importance as a decision-making resource in their daily lives. Following a review of other modes of engaging the public, however, the work of the museum will be carried out through a new program of activities that will take place in a variety of locations and online, interacting with a broad range of community partners in its continuing mission to help people use science to solve problems. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting transition by signing up for our newsletter!

Koshland Science Museum Announces Winter Program Lineup

Maureen O'Leary, Office of News and Public Information, The National Academies
202-334-2138, Email: Maureen O'Leary

December 31, 2008 – WASHINGTON – Beginning in January, The Marian Koshland Science Museum is offering “The Dish,” an array of public programs that provides participants a sociable way to engage in current scientific topics. In addition, the museum will host a special educators forum in February. The schedule of events follows. Please note: events will take place at the Koshland Science Museum unless otherwise noted.

Stop by the Koshland’s exhibit at NBC4’s 16th annual health expo to learn more about infectious diseases and the role of DNA in an individual’s overall health. Isolate your own DNA in a hands-on experiment and receive free giveaways. The expo features over 200 businesses and organizations and offers health tests and screenings, cooking demonstrations, and exercise classes. For more information about the expo, visit NBC 4’s web site at www.nbcwashington.com.

Take a break from the crowds, have some hot chocolate, and brush up on scientific topics that are sure to be on President-elect Obama’s agenda by visiting our exhibits, Global Warming: Facts and Our Future, and Infectious Disease. The first 500 visitors will also receive free commemorative key chains.

Explore the role of DNA in tracing human ancestry and origins at this free family day, part of the African American History Program of the National Academy of Sciences. At noon, Matthew George Jr., geneticist at Howard University, will present his talk, “Mitochondrial Eve: The Mother of Us All,” about the origins of mankind. And at 2 p.m., Agnes A. Day, associate professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine at Howard University, will discuss her journey as a first-generation college graduate to prolific researcher in her talk, “The Sharecropper”s Daughter.” Visitors can also view selections from “A Portrait Collection of African Americans in Science, Engineering, and Medicine.”

Fine cheeses are like fine wines: producing and aging them properly is both an art and a science. That’s a well known fact in Vermont, the state with the greatest number of artisan cheesemakers per capita, and a leading producer of traditional cheeses and new cheese products. Join Catherine Donnelly, professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Vermont and the co-director of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese, for a discussion of the microbial world of great cheeses. Be prepared to sample! Tickets are $15.

In celebration of Darwin Day, the Koshland hosts an interactive forum for middle and high school science educators on how current scientific research can be used to support classroom instruction. Participants will discuss research about the environmental influences on evolution such as the impact of climate change, biodiversity, and invasive species. Speakers include Peter Armbruster, assistant professor of biology at Georgetown University; James Trefil, Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Physics, George Mason University; and Toby Horn, co-director of the Carnegie Academy for Science Education, Carnegie Institution of Washington. Participants are also invited to attend a reception following the forum and a lecture by Erich Jarvis, a researcher at Duke University who specializes in the evolution of bird song. Educators should make reservations in advance (contact information below).

Tickets and additional information are available through the museum at 202-334-1201 or the events page; advance ticket purchase is recommended for all events. Reporters who wish to cover these programs should pre-register.

The Marian Koshland Science Museum engages the general public in an exploration of the current scientific issues that affect their lives. The museum's state-of-the-art exhibits, public events, and educational programs provide information that stimulates discussion and provides insight into how science supports decision-making. Located at 6th and E streets, N.W., the museum is easily accessible by metro at the Gallery Place/Chinatown and Judiciary Square stops.